Scale inhibitor, composition useful for preparing same, and method of inhibiting scale

Abstract

An aminomethylene phosphonate having the general formula: wherein x is an integer having a value of from 1 to 3, M is a hydrogen or a cation, and R is an atom or a hydrocarbyl having from 1 to 20 carbons can be used to inhibit scaling in applications such as cooling water treatments systems and oil wells.

1 . A composition useful for inhibiting scale comprising: an aminomethylene phosphonate having the general formula:  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein x is an integer having a value of from 1 to 3, M is a hydrogen or a cation, and R is an atom or a hydrocarbyl having from 1 to 20 carbons.  
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein R is selected from the group consisting of a methylene group; an ethylene glycol moiety having a general formula —CH 2 —CH 2 —; a propylene glycol moiety having a general formula —CH 2 —CH 2 —CH 2 —; a diethylene glycol moiety having a general formula —CH 2 —CH 2 —O—CH 2 —CH 2 —; a cyclohexyl moiety having the general formula C 6 H 8 ; a cyclohexyl moiety having the general formula C 6 H 7 ; an alkyl ester moiety having the general formula CH 3 —(CH 2 ) n CO 2 — wherein n is an integer from 1 to 18; and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 2  wherein R is an ethylene glycol moiety having a general formula —CH 2 —CH 2 —.  
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 3  wherein x is 2 and M is a hydrogen.  
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 3  wherein x is 2 and M is a potassium atom.  
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 3  wherein x is 2 and M is a sodium atom.  
     
     
         7 . A method for inhibiting scale formation in a system including moving or static water incorporating dissolved inorganic materials, the method comprising introducing into the system a scale inhibitor comprising an aminomethylene phosphonate having the general formula:  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein x is an integer having a value of from 1 to 3, M is a hydrogen or a cation, and R is an atom or a hydrocarbyl having from 1 to 20 carbons.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein R is selected from the group consisting of a methylene group; an ethylene glycol moiety having a general formula —CH 2 —CH 2 —; a propylene glycol moiety having a general formula —CH 2 —CH 2 —CH 2 —; a diethylene glycol moiety having a general formula —CH 2 —CH 2 —O—CH 2 —CH 2 —; a cyclohexyl moiety having the general formula C 6 H 8 ; a cyclohexyl moiety having the general formula C 6 H 7 ; an alkyl ester moiety having the general formula CH 3 —(CH 2 ) n CO 2 — wherein n is an integer from 1 to 18; and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein R is an ethylene glycol moiety having a general formula —CH 2 —CH 2 —.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein x is 2 and M is a hydrogen.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  wherein x is 2 and M is a potassium atom.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9  wherein x is 2 and M is a sodium atom.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the scale inhibitor is employed at a concentration of from about 0.01 ppm to about 10,000 ppm.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the scale inhibitor is employed at a concentration of from about 0.1 ppm to about 1,000 ppm.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the scale inhibitor is employed at a concentration of from about 1 ppm to about 100 ppm.  
     
     
         16 . A composition of matter comprising an aminomethylene phosphonate having the general formula:  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein x is an integer having a value of from 1 to 3, M is a hydrogen or a cation, and R is a hydrocarbyl having from 1 to 20 carbons.  
     
     
         17 . The composition of matter of  claim 16  wherein R is selected from the group consisting of a methylene group; an ethylene glycol moiety having a general formula —CH 2 —CH 2 —; a propylene glycol moiety having a general formula —CH 2 —CH 2 —CH 2 —; a diethylene glycol moiety having a general formula —CH 2 —CH 2 —O—CH 2 —CH 2 —; a cyclohexyl moiety having the general formula C 6 H 8 ; a cyclohexyl moiety having the general formula C 6 H 7 ; an alkyl ester moiety having the general formula CH 3 —(CH 2 ) n CO 2 — wherein n is an integer from 1 to 18; and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         18 . The composition of matter of  claim 17  wherein R is an ethylene glycol moiety having a general formula —CH 2 —CH 2 —.  
     
     
         19 . The composition of matter of  claim 18  wherein x is 2 and M is a hydrogen.  
     
     
         20 . The composition of matter of  claim 18  wherein x is 2 and M is a potassium atom.  
     
     
         21 . The composition of matter of  claim 19  wherein x is 2 and M is a sodium atom.  
     
     
         22 . A composition useful for inhibiting corrosion or dispersing organics in an aqueous medium comprising the composition of matter of  claim 16.